Towneplace Suites by Marriott to Open in the Outer Banks With General Manager Amanda Phillips at the Helm

Get ready to be real and be you on long stays. Marriott International's TownePlace Suites by Marriott Outer Banks Kill Devil Hills is scheduled to open for business this month. Built for travelers looking for a simple and friendly place where they can settle-in, keep their routine, and easily connect to the Outer Banks area. The new hotel located at 2028 South Virginia Dare Trail, will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by First Flight Hotel, LLC and managed by Rocklight Capital of Williamsburg, Virginia.

"We are excited to introduce the TownePlace Suites brand to the Outer Banks area," said Diane Mayer, vice president and global brand manager, TownePlace Suites. "At TownePlace Suites, we get it. We want to go above and beyond to do everything we can to make our guests feel comfortable. We encourage our guests to be real, and help them to do so by providing a seamless residential atmosphere with a friendly staff who genuinely care about our guests. That is what our brand is all about, and this property is a great example of that."

All service team members are thoroughly trained on local knowledge and look forward to connecting guests to the local area. Our floor-to-ceiling TowneMap® also helps guests instantly acclimate themselves to the Outer Banks by featuring great places to eat, play and live (explore). The beachfront hotel is located between the idyllic beach towns of Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head and offers guests convenient access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Jockey's Ridge State Park, Cape Hatteras and Roanoke Island.

Ideal for travelers who need accommodations for longer stays, this new property offers suites with custom nautical décor and fully equipped kitchens, as well as separate living/working and sleeping areas. Guests can work and relax on their own terms in modern suites that feature full kitchens with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, adjustable work spaces with built-in shelves and lighting, a large flat screen television, as well as luxurious new bedding. The hotel features flat-panel televisions providing over 40 high-definition channels, interactive guide, streaming of Netflix, Hulu and YouTube, so guests can use their own devices.

The TownePlace Suites Outer Banks Kill Devil Hills allows guests to maintain a healthy lifestyle with an array of food options. While on property guests can create their own complimentary hot breakfast every morning in the lobby area, and can fire up their stay by grilling up dinner on our outdoor Weber grills. The 24-hour In a Pinch® market and On Us® coffee service offer guests the chance to get their snack and caffeine on whenever they feel the need.

TownePlace Suites helps its guests stay organized on the road with the help of our partners the Container Store. While staying at the hotel, travelers can unpack their suitcase in a custom elfa® closet. From drawers to shelves to smart hanging space, you'll find everything you need to make you feel right at home. Other hotel amenities include a heated indoor swimming pool, a fitness center open 24 hours per day, laundry facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and on-site business services, including copying, faxing and printing. As a brand TownePlace Suites recognizes that your family may include more than just humans, that is why the TownePlace Suites Outer Banks Kill Devil Hills is pet-friendly (fees may apply).

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

Revenue Management: Focus On Profit

Revenue Management is still a relatively new profession within hotel operations and as such, it continues to evolve. One significant trend in this area is a shift away from using revenue as the foundation to generate key performance indicators (KPIs) and to instead place the emphasis on profit. Traditionally, revenue managers have relied on total revenue per available room (TrevPAR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) as the basis of their KPIs. Now, some revenue managers are using gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) as their primary KPI. This puts profit at the center of revenue management strategy, and managers are increasingly searching for new ways to increase the profitability of their hotels. Return on Investment is the objective of any hotel investment, so it is only logical that profitability and ROI will be emphasized going forward. Another trend is an expanded focus on direct hotel bookings. Revenue managers know that one way to increase profitability is to steer guests away from online travel agencies (OTAs) and book directly with the hotel. This tactic also reinforces brand identity and loyalty, and encourages repeat business. In addition, it provides a valuable platform to market the hotel directly to the customer, and to upsell room upgrades or other services to them. Another trend for revenue managers involves automation in their software programs. Revenue management systems with automation are far more desirable than those without it. Automating data entry and logistics increases efficiency, allowing managers to spend more time on formulating strategy. As a bonus, an automated system helps with aggregating and interpreting data. The October issue of the Hotel Business Review will address these developments and document how some leading hotels are executing their revenue management strategies.